By PAUL GOTHAM
BRIGHTON, N.Y. — A season ago, it appeared Cos Zeiser (Victor, N.Y./Victor HS) was trending in the right direction when the then freshman right-hander hurled five shutout innings in a 14-0 victory over Onondaga Community College on March 18th.
It was his third appearance on the mound following one inning of work to begin his college career and then his first start that lasted four innings.
From there, Zeiser didn’t get past three innings including a forgettable performance on April 14th against Genesee CC when he couldn’t get an out.
So on early Saturday evening when Zeiser recorded the final out of the first complete-game of his career, it was only natural for the Monroe Community College Tribune to experience a rush of emotions.
“It feels amazing,” he said after host Monroe CC defeated Niagara County Community College, 3-2 in Game 2 of a WNYAC doubleheader from Tribune Field.
After falling 6-5 in the opener, Zeiser gave the Tribunes (13-5) exactly what they needed. He struck out seven against two walks and six hits as he improved to 3-0 on the season.
“You need to flip the switch,” he said of the opening loss. “I mean, while games get lost, they’re a great team, and I think it’s just a matter of moving on to the next page.”
Last week, he allowed four runs on three hits over 4.2 innings in a win over Bryant & Stratton of Ohio. On Saturday, he held NCCC (26-3), averaging better than 10 runs per game, to one over the first six innings of action.
“He is a plus-competitor,” said MCC head coach Dave Brust “His competitiveness shines and has rubbed off on the rest of his teammates.”
Brust didn’t think twice when Niagara County’s Alexander Graham (Toronto, ON/York Mills Collegiate) led the top of the seventh with a home run inside the foul pole in right field.
“I wasn’t going to the bullpen,” he said. “No one is going to compete more than that kid.”
Zeiser left a runner on base in each of the first five innings before allowing the Thunderwolves to score on a two-out single from Evan Kohr (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois HS) in the fifth.
He took a 3-1 lead into the final frame and responded to Graham’s solo shot by sending the next three batters back to the dugout on strikes. After the final strike, he walked off the mound and threw his glove into the air.
“I was throwing a ton of fastballs all day, just filling up the zone,” Zeiser said. “The first two guys watched fastballs. I think that last batter was just waiting for a fastball, and it never came.”
Monroe grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Thomas Woodridge (Fayetteville, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) reached on a one-out single, stole second and eventually scored on an error. Braedon Reina (Rochester, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) worked a base on balls, stole second and eventually came home on a two-out base hit by his younger brother, Aaron Reina (Rochester, N.Y./Churchville-Chili).
Aidan Gallagher (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay-East Fishkill) singled, stole second and scored on Braedon Reina’s two-out double to right.
Game 1 featured a matchup of former high school teammates when MCC’s Connor Osier (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) faced Derrick Allen (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena). Both came away with a no-decision in Niagara County’s 6-5 win in eight innings.
After allowing four runs in the first, Osier settled in and struck five over five innings of work.
Allen fanned four over seven innings.
Trailing 4-1 in the third, Michael Sardou (Rochester, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) plated Woodridge and Braedon Reina with a double. Sardou later scored when Aaron Reina reached on an infield single.
NCCC’s Cooper Prizel (Derby, N.Y./Canisius) walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch in the fourth.
MCC responded in the home half. Sardou drove in Woodridge with a one-out single. The Tribunes left runners on the corners in the frame.
Cam Gravelle (Smithville, ON/West Niagara) drove in Luke Gigliotti (Toronto, ON/Humberside Collegiate) with the go-ahead run on a two-out single.
Tanner Holmes (Allenford, ON/Owen Sound District) and Gallagher both connected on one-out singles in the bottom of the eighth. The two were on second and third when the final out was made.
“I’m definitely disappointed we lost Game 1,” Brust said. “It was good we were able to get ourselves focused for Game 2.”
Jaden Sherwood (Batavia, N.Y./Notre Dame-Batavia) took the opening loss. The right-hander retired the first four batters he faced before allowing a two-out single to Gravelle.
“He made one bad pitch,” Brust said of Sherwood. “He’s a sinkerball guy, and he left one thigh-high and out over the plate.”
Sardou was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored in the opener.
Braedon Reina went 2-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored. Woodridge walked twice and crossed home twice. Gallagher was 2-4 with a double. Holmes went 2-4 with an RBI. Aaron Reina drove in a run and also scored as part of a 2-4 effort.
Gallagher, Woodridge and Braedon Reina each singled and scored in the night cap. Aaron Reina singled, walked and drove in a run. Holmes was 2-3.
Braedon Reina finished 3-6 with two doubles, two walks, two RBI and two runs scored for the day.
Osier and Allen led Athena to 2023 Section V Class A1 title.
MCC hosts Lackawanna College for a NJCAA doubleheader on Wednesday, April 8th. A 1 PM first pitch is scheduled for Game 1.
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